Rare Minton Parian figure 'The Lion in Love'

A fine quality and rare Minton Parian figure of 'The Lion in Love'.

Modelled by the French sculptor Jean-Baptiste- Jules Klagmann (1810 -1867), after the marble of the same name by Willem Geefs which was shown at the Great Exhibition in 1851.  Minton date code for 1864.  39cm high.

The sculpture is based on Aesop's tale about a Lion which fell in love with the fair daughter of a forester, and demanded her of her father in marriage. The forester was afraid to refuse the offer and told the lion that he would consent but only on condition that the lion’s teeth should first be drawn and his claws cut off. The Lion, enslaved by love, agreed . The Parian figure shows the daughter trimming the lion’s claws.  Toothless and clawless, the story did not end well for the lion!

The original marble is in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Brussels, and has the inscription ‘AMOUR, AMOUR, QUANT TU NOUS TIENS, / ON PEUT BIEN DIRE : « ADIEU, PRUDENCE !»’

This group is illustrated in the “Parian Phenomenon” page 83 fig 127.

Condition: Very Good. There is a shallow chip to the underside of the base.  The lock of hair falling down the daughter's back has been restored.  The tip of one of the blades of the shears is missing.